Dublin school cancels workshop on homophobic bullying, saying “both sides should be r

Imagine an Educate Together was going to hold a workshop on racism and two parents (their colour is irrelevant) opposed it on the basis that their child shouldn't be subjected to anti-racism propaganda?

Really bizarre decision by the school. They should have excluded the children whose parents opposed it and went ahead. I can only imagine some higher-up strings were pulled, even if it was on the basis of a parents' objections.

Fair play:

http://www.thejournal.ie/colaiste-eoin-stillorgan-homophobia-workshop-1905500-Jan2015/

TRANSITION YEAR STUDENTS at Coláiste Eoin in Stillorgan, Dublin, are planning a protest tomorrow over the school’s decision to cancel a workshop on homophobic bullying.

P.

The_Valeyard wrote: »

Sorry, just seeing this now.
I don't see that happening. The whole thing would and did blow up in front of the school. Any principal or department head would not let themselves open to that.

There's been quite a lot of similar controversies with schools and talks, but this is the first instance a school involved was named. I imagine they simply thought it would blow over as per usual.

P.

lazygal wrote: »

The gaelscoil closest to us couldn't be more traditional and more into equating being Irish with being catholic if it tried. Lots of parents send their children there to avoid having their children in school with non Irish children and the children who do go there spend hours in the church across the road. The music done is all for school masses and the artwork is all based on religious themes. As a parent raising children free from religion there is no way I could or would send them there and expect it to be a suitable, inclusive environment for my children.

I found both Gaelscoileanna that I attended to be very progressive. They taught broadly on religions and cultures, they emphasised multi-linguism, not just Irish, and the sex-ed, whilst not perfect, was miles ahead of some of the English-speaking schools that friends of mine attended.

What you describe was very likely a religious school, which of course would be religiously-themed. These aren't confined to Gaelscoileanna - the majority of national schools are Catholic.

My primary school was run by the Catholic Church, so was of course more Catholic-themed. But I still found it to be relatively fair in its teaching of other religions, and certainly other cultures. They also gave us an early opportunity to learn a 3rd language, which I believe isn't common practice (or wasn't at the time) for primary level. My secondary school was secular, so more open. It was split into an English and Irish side. I felt the Irish side was more progressive and accepting. One was much more likely to be bullied (be it homophobic or otherwise) in the English side.

My positives experiences of Gaelscoileanna is thankfully not confined to just my own, from what I can gather, it's very much the norm. What's alleged here is not the general standard. I think the criticisms against Gaelscoileanna and Irish speakers as a whole are ill-informed and prejudicial.


On the students protesting, I think it's very sensible if the school have behaved in the manner of which they are accused. Pupils should know that they should have the confidence to stand up to their school in a calm and polite way for things they disagree with.

Isn't an anti bullying workshop enough. Or are there now Anti Nerd Bullying workshops, anti spectacle wearing bullying workshops, anti the chubby kid bullying workshops, etc, etc. Wouldn't a workshop on acceptance be more appropriate - I reckon most young people are a lot more clued in about these topics then they are given credit for.

Bullying is not acceptable, bullies don't need an excuse to label, they do it anyway.

Having said that this was a workshop not a televised debate - Why would they need to balance that with anything?

aunt aggie wrote: »

If parents have concerns they can keep their kids at home. Schools have to provide education on bullying and relationships. Parents cant argue with that.

Your comments are just bizarre. First you think schools don't provide any education on the matter. Now, they do but only cover the topics all parents approve of.

No, I never said that schools don't provide any education on the matter. I simply refuted your assertion that they were legally obliged to do so. They are legally obliged to formulate a policy, and are provided with a template policy from the DES which includes guidelines for recommended teaching of the SPHE curriculum.

Some schools will outsource some parts of the curriculum, some schools will choose to teach the curriculum themselves. The standard of the teaching of the curriculum is dependent on both the school and the level of parental involvement, and parents are usually encouraged to be involved.

If they choose not to, and if they choose not to have their children participate in that part of the curriculum, then that's not the fault of the school.

Donkey Oaty wrote: »

That's very impressive indeed.

Would be nice to hear more about this kind of thing in schools, because everyone tends to focus on the crap.

That's the thing though- there is a huge amount of guest speakers and workshops that take place every day in schools across the country. To be honest, in my school where I teach there is probably somebody in to speak to one group or other every single day, mostly with Transition Years but it can be with any group really. I think a huge amount of the great work done in schools on what's called the "informal curriculum" goes unnoticed. It's a pity.

Dravokivich wrote: »

I can't believe this is a thing, workshops on Homophobic bullying? Sounds a whole lot like white man's burden to me.

It's a thing because bullying is a thing. Do you need to be reminded that a lot of gay teens struggle as it is being different with the added extra of being targeted for it. Until kids can be themselves without fear then there is a need for an anti bullying workshop.